Anna Pearson's Needlepoint Blog

We have had the first session of the two day Lettering Class, everyone enjoyed it.  Hard at Work We started off exploring the many, many types of lettering that could be used on needlepoint with the help of a specially prepared work manual.   This gave examples of simple letters, script alphabets, monograms, nautical flags that represent individual letters, and many more. Hard at Play   Besides numerous alphabets there was examples of how each type could b put to create whole projects or simply add a personal touch to a piece.   A lively discussion ensued with many examples of my own work being handled and discussed   Gill Alphabet  Phrase Probably the areas that appealed most to the students were ‘Phrases’ , sayings like ‘You aren’t getting old just more valuable’ and one student brought in a great saying about gardens which will call out for a pretty floral border (to be worked on Day 2).   The Eric Gill script alphabet worked on a...

As mentioned before the weekend I expressed the hope that, because of the back to back sport over the weekend I would get a great deal of stitching done and promised to share any progress! Scheme II & III Well, here is what I managed – finishing a third colourway of Tudor Rose and quite good progress on my Rhinoceros.   Some time ago I showed a ‘vide poche’ piece with Robert’s initials and multiply borders that I completed however I enjoyed working all the different borders so much that I vowed to follow the same idea and make it into a boxed cushion – so as to show the intricate border flat!  The Rhino is hand-painted from a woodcut by Durer (1515) and worked in Vineyard silks (my first use of this thread and good for Tent stitch as it is not divisible) The Border introduced Threadworx Overdyed floss and stranded cotton.   By working the two central columns (top and bottom) and then the corners it makes fitting in the in-between columns simple an...